Applauding device and the like.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

F. M. DUCKWORTH. APPLAUDING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7. 1907.

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FRANK M. DUOKWORTH, OF BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPLAUDING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed January '7, 1907. Serial No. 351,111.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. DUcKwonTrr, a citizen of the United States,residing in Bridgewater, county of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Applauding Devices and the Like, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representinglike'parts.

This invention has ior its object the production of a novel device [orapplauding, it being used instead of clapping the hands the usual customof approving anything well done, my device being for use on patriotic orfestive occasions as harmless noise maker.

My applauder comprises a resonant member and one or more connectedstrikers that, as the resonant member is shaken, will strike the side orsides oi the resonant member.

Figure 1 in perspective shows one of my applauding devices in one of thebest forms now known to me, and Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof.

The applauding device shown comprises a resonant member A extended tolorm a hand piece A said member being pre'l'erably of wood. At one orboth sides oi the resonant member I provide a striker B that may be madel'rom any flexible spriugy material, I employing for sake of lightnessof weight, cheapness and durability leathcroid, thin hard-pressedleatherboard or their equivalents, and for a more expensive applauder Imight make the striker or strikers oi celluloid, or hard-rubber or likehard compound capable of being made in sheet form and bent to presenttheir ends to strike the side ol the resonant central member. Thestrikers are not an integral part oi the resonant member and arepreferably oi a different material and wider than the resonant member.The strikers shown are connected at or near one end to the resonantmember by a strong flexible band a cemented thereabout, and theband andstrikers are further united to the resonant member by a iastening b thatmay be tacks. That the ends of the strikers may be inturned or put inposition to strike the resonant member, I have combined with thestrikers positioning means shown as cord 0 extended through holes in thestrikers, thence led downwardly toward the opposite ends of the strikersand passed between the strikers and the resonant member, the cord beingexposed at the handle that it may be pulled upon to curve the strikersmore or less and retain them in their operative positions where theypresent their ends in position to strike the resonant member.

I may in some instances so bend the strikers permanently that they willoccupy normally the position shown by full lines in the drawings, butwhen the applauders are to be marketed in large quantities and the sizeof the package needs to be taken into consideration, or when sent bymail, the strikers may be left substantially straight, as shown bydotted lines 2, Fig. 2,

and when to be used the cord may be drawn to bend and retain thestrikers in their operative positions shown by the iull lines.

The inner extremity of each striker is shown as entering a socket 0preferably of metal and having upturned sides with over-hanging flangese. The applauder is shown as provided with a card f the lower end ofwhich may be inserted in the socket a and be secured to the striker andresonant member by a fastening g. This card may be of any suitablematerial and it the material is hard enough to be resilient. it will, byacting on the strikers tend to keep their acting ends in yieldingcontact with the resilient member. This card may be used as anadvertising medium or be ornamented to suit any occasion on which theapplauder may be used.

The strikers may be made of any color, as for instance crimson, andblue, it to be used at the football games; or be ornamented suitably ioruse on the Fourth of July, Christmas, or other special days oroccasions. It is obvious that my invention would not be departed from iibut one striker was used and that at one side of the resonant member,the noise or racket being less with one striker.

Having tully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is'.

1. An applauding device comprising a resonant member, a flexible strikerconnected thereto, and means secured to the device to transversely curvethe striker.

2. An applauding device comprising a resonant member, a plurality offlexible strikers connected thereto capable of being laid flat on theresonant member, and means to curve the strikers at will and retain themin said position.

An applauding device comprising a resonant member, a flexible strikerconnected thereto, means to transversely curve the striker. and meansfor retaining the striker in its curved position.

4. An applauding device comprising a resonant member, a flexible strikerconnected thereto, means connected to the free end of the strikerwhereby said striker may be curved at will and retained in curvedposition.

5. An applauding device comprising a resonant member, a plurality oi.flexible strikers connected thereto, cords se cur'ed one to the free endof each striker whereby the strikers may be curved at will, and meansfor securing the opposite ends of said cords in position after the desired curvature in the strikers has been made.

6. In an applauding device, a resonant member a striker and a card, saidstriker and card being connected with the resonant member.

7. An applauding device comprising a resonant member, a strikerconnected thereto, a band encircling the striker and resonant member, acord attached to the free end of said striker, the opposite end of saidcord adapted to be passed between the resonant member and the striker atthe point where said resonant member and striker are secured togetherand retained therein by friction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. DUCKWORTH.

Witnesses:

Gno. W. Gnneonr, hIARGARET A. DUNN.

